Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Weather Still Good in Northern Michigan
Great week again but it looks like the weather will change for the worst this weekend, and most will have the lakes to themself as most are thinking football and hunting. While most Michiganders are enjoying the nice weather, those expecting to catch fish during the annual fall salmon run are not. The dry warm weather has somewhat stalled the runs however rain in the forecast forthis weekend should be the boost that is needed to get the runs going again. Houghton Lake fishing is still good with limit catches over the weekend. Also Lake Margreathe is hot for perch and bluegill with limit catches. Fish are already starting a fall pattern. Anglers are reminded that lake trout season on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron will close on September 30th. On the inland waters, all Type 1 and Type 2 rivers and streams along with Type A and Type D trout lakes will also close to fishing on September 30th.
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying fishing is real slow this week with some pike being caught on suckers also one of his customers brought in a 43 inch pike caught in front of the state park.also it looks like his store will be closing soon also. A sad note in the Gaylord area Don’s Sport Shop is closed and have been in business since the 50’s. How times are changing and your small businesses will no longer be serving the sportsman.
Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake says off of Long Point the walleye bite is still good with leeches and crawlers working best with a bobber. Lots of people on the lake this week and catching fish. Limit walleye catches this week and the big bluegill are biting along with big bass. He has four special crawlers harness that he ties that are working great.There is a landing across the street( 16 foot fishing boats or smaller as the lake has dropped a foot)from him but no parking, but if you buy your supplies from him he will let you park in his vacent lot across from the landing and put you on the fish.
Call him at 989-422-5230 his address is 9613 E Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629.
Saginaw Bay - A few perch have been caught around various buoys along the shipping channel. The best thing to do is to keep moving until you find an active school of fish. Walleye were caught near Buoy G which is the sailing buoy off the mouth of the Saginaw River. Good numbers of smallmouth bass have been caught around Spoils Island and catfish are still hitting in the Hot Pond. At Sebewaing, just a few perch were caught in the boat channel. Walleye fishing was slow.
Mullett Lake -A few pike were caught on the southeast end of the lake while bass were hitting on natural and artificial bait along the breaks and at the mouth of the Cheboygan River. Some nice perch have been caught south of Dodge Point and on both the east and the west side of the lake.
Burt Lake - Burt Lake in Alanson has anglers trolling during the evening hours with great success, mostly using crawlers. Inland lakes are giving up plenty of blue gill. Also some perch are showing up
Lake Margrethe a decent number of walleye are being taken in about 18 feet of water using leeches or crawlers on a jig head. Perch are biting great also on minnows. Anglers are also catching a few pike as well. Also the gills have started to bite on waxworms and worms.
Higgins Lake -Perch are being caught on fathead minnows and wigglers and the bite has got better this week with nice perch being caught..
Houghton Lake -Walleye are being caught along the weedbeds when drifting crawler harnesses or leeches.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch and smallmouth anglers are taking fish with crawlers and minnows working best.
Lake Bellaire -Good numbers of walleye have been caught by those trolling or jigging in the south and northwest arms, the Narrows and near Fisherman’s Paradise. They are trolling crawler harnesses and stick baits or jigging with leeches and crawlers in 8 to 40 feet of water. The fish range from 14 to 30 inches. Bass were caught in 8 to 25 feet of water near the northern flats and along the drop-off near the access site. Try artificial worms, tube baits, spinners or crank baits. Pike were hitting on spoons or stick baits in 15 to 30 feet of water in the northwest arm. Several perch between 4 and 9 inches have been caught on minnows and crawlers in 5 to 20 feet of water near the mouth of the Intermediate River. Some bluegills were caught.
Glen Lake - Is again producing some nice catches of perch around the point off the marina and along the beds at the north end of Big Glen. Try minnows or wigglers.
Elk River - Salmon and steelhead are slowly moving into the river. Try drifting spawn or casting body baits.
Boardman River - Salmon and steelhead are starting to come into the river. Those using spawn have caught a few fish.
Lake Leelanau - The perch have started to move and limit catches were reported in the bays when using minnows or wigglers.
Long Lake by Traverse City has picked up on both perch and walleye
Lake Missaukee - Is hot for all fish and lots of action this week with panfish really on the bite and waxworms are the ticket.
Portage Lake -Is producing a good mix of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass on the west end of the lake. Panfish are deep and scattered.
Manistee -Boats are still heading out and catching salmon and steelhead in 150 to 300 feet of water. Most fish were caught on orange spoons in the top 60 feet. Pier anglers caught a few fish on glow spoons.
Manistee River - Salmon fishing was a bit slow. There are some fish in the river however warm temperatures and low clear waters are keeping them off the gravel. Rain by the weekend should help but until then, concentrate on the deeper holes in the lower stretches.
Ludington -Boats are catching some salmon and steelhead in 100 to 200 feet of water. For steelhead, try 3, 5 or 8 colors of lead with orange spoons. Pier anglers and those surfcasting near the State Park reported slow catch rates.
Brevort Lake near Allenville and north of St. Ignace is producing walleye and anglers are doing well when they can get out. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures limited angling activity this week but the weekend is looking up.
Manistique anglers are dealing with chilly temperatures and rain this week, but when anglers can get out the fishing is good on Indian Lake for decent counts of walleye. Good fishing off of the Manistique area on Lake Michigan where the salmon and trout are active. Spoons are working in just about every color. Good luck to all anglers fishing in the 24th Annual Manistique Area Salmon and Trout Derby this weekend. Call 1-800-342-4282 or 906-341-5241 for information.
Little Bay De Noc-Finally has some of the best walleye fishing reported this season. Fait to good catches in the southern bay when trolling crank baits or crawlers in 16 to 30 feet of water between the “Fingers” and the Minneapolis Shoals. The best fishing was in the Black Bottom area when drifting or trolling crawlers in 20 to 25 feet of water. A few perch were taken in the Narrows off Saunders Point. Smallmouth bass were caught throughout the bay although the better fishing was in 10 to 20 feet of water off Hunters Point. A few salmon have started to show up at the mouth of the Ford River.
Big Bay De Noc-Has good walleye fishing all the way out to Round Island. Most are trolling stick baits in 20 to 30 feet of water. Good smallmouth action off Ansell’s Point and south to Garden Bluff when casting tube baits or crank baits along the weeds in 20 feet of water. Nahma has fair to good perch action for those jigging minnows in 10 to 18 feet just off the mouth of the Sturgeon River. At Fairport, anglers are still salmon fishing 80 to 125 feet down in deeper waters.
Grand Marais - A few salmon were caught in 40 to 80 feet of water. Lake trout fishing is very good for those trolling in waters 170 feet deep. Pier fishing was slow.
Cedarville and Hessel -Those fishing minnows off the pier at the Hessel Marina have caught smallmouth bass, perch and pike. The pike are small. Smallmouth were hitting on spinner baits near the rocks and points of Snows Channel, the east end of Musky Bay, Connors Point and the Middle Entrance. For perch, check out Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance while drifting or trolling small crawler harnesses.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Summer Is Still Here
Here is a photo of the world record brown trout.
Our summer finally arrived and will be here though the weekend, and most will have the lakes to yourself as most are thinking football and hunting. While most Michiganders are enjoying the nice weather, those expecting to catch fish during the annual fall salmon run are not. The dry warm weather has somewhat stalled the runs however rain in the forecast for next week should be the boost that is needed to get the runs going again. Houghton Lake fishing is still good with limit catches over the weekend. Fish are already starting a fall pattern
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying fishing is real slow this week with some pike being caught on suckerss. A sad note in the Gaylord area Don’s Sport Shop is closed and have been in business since the 50’s. How times are changing and your small businesses will no longer be serving the sportsman.
Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake says off of Long Point the walleye bite is still good with leeches and crawlers working best with a bobber. Lots of people on the lake this week and catching fish. Limit walleye catches this week and the big bluegill are biting along with big bass. He has four special crawlers harness that he ties that are working great.There is a landing across the street( 16 foot fishing boats or smaller as the lake has dropped a foot)from him but no parking, but if you buy your supplies from him he will let you park in his vacent lot across from the landing and put you on the fish.
Call him at 989-422-5230 his address is 9613 E Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629.
Saginaw Bay - Walleye action has slowed with only a couple fish taken in 14 feet of water off the Pinconning Bar. A few perch were caught on minnows near buoys 8, 15, 16 and 18 or in 15 feet of water off Linwood and near the Spark Plug. Most were 8 to 10 inches but some were closer to the 12 inch range. Catfish are still hitting near the Hot Ponds. A few walleye were caught near Quanicassee when slow trolling crawler harnesses north of the channel. Hot-n-Tots were also taking fish. A few perch were also caught along the weeds in 8 feet of water. Anglers are working hard to keep a dozen but the fish caught were in the 8 to 11 inch range.
Mullett Lake -Water temperatures have warmed 10 degrees since last week, and this has slowed fishing. A few trout have been caught in 90 feet of water and walleye in 10 to 30 feet. Bass and perch could be found in 12 to 35 feet of water.
Burt Lake - Burt Lake in Alanson has anglers trolling during the evening hours with great success, mostly using crawlers. Inland lakes are giving up plenty of blue gill. Also some perch are showing up
Lake Margrethe a decent number of walleye are being taken in about 18 feet of water using leeches or crawlers on a jig head. Perch are biting great also on minnows. Anglers are also catching a few pike as well. Also the gills have started to bite on waxworms and worms.
Higgins Lake -Perch are being caught on fathead minnows and wigglers.
Houghton Lake -Walleye, bass and bluegills can be found along the weedbeds in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch and smallmouth anglers are taking some fish. For anglers in the smaller boats, salmon are staging in the lake.
Lake Bellaire -Pressure for walleye has declined even though fish are still being caught. Most are trolling a crawler harness or jigging leeches and crawlers in 15 to 40 feet of water. A few bass were caught by those casting artificial worms, tube baits, spinners and crank baits along the east and west drop-offs and in the South Arm. Pike were taken near the mouth of the Intermediate River when casting spinners or jerk baits. A few perch were also caught but the fish were small.
Glen Lake - Is again producing some nice catches of perch around the point off the marina and along the beds at the north end of Big Glen. Try shrimp or wigglers.
Elk River - Very slow this week
Boardman River - Salmon are in the river with early morning the best using spawn
Lake Leelanau - The perch have started to move and limit catches were reported in the bays when using minnows or wigglers.
Long Lake by Traverse City has picked up on both perch and walleye
Lake Missaukee - Is hot for all fish and lots of action this week with panfish really on the bite and waxworms are the ticket.
Portage Lake -as slow catch rates except some nice bluegills were taken in 25 to 30 feet of water on minnows, wigglers, crawlers or crickets. Lots of perch were caught however many are small. Casting for bass in the morning has produced some decent catches on the west end of the lake. Try spinners or plastic worm rigs.
Manistee -Boat anglers are still heading out deep and catching salmon and trout in 300 to 400 feet of water. Try the top 45 feet of water with orange spoons. A few boats fishing in front of the piers had limited success. Pier fishing was slow.
Manistee River - Salmon fishing has been slow especially at Tippy Dam. Good numbers of fish came in Labor Day Weekend, but the dry warm weather has the run at a stand still. Salmon remain concentrated in the lower stretches of the river.
Ludington -Salmon have been caught early in the morning in 40 to 80 feet of water when using glow plugs. Boats fishing 150 to 300 feet of water between the Point and the Bathhouse were also catching fish on 3, 5 or 8 colors of lead with orange spoons.
Brevort Lake near Allenville and north of St. Ignace is producing walleye and anglers are doing well when they can get out. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures limited angling activity this week but the weekend is looking up.
Manistique anglers are dealing with chilly temperatures and rain this week, but when anglers can get out the fishing is good on Indian Lake for decent counts of walleye. Good fishing off of the Manistique area on Lake Michigan where the salmon and trout are active. Spoons are working in just about every color. Good luck to all anglers fishing in the 24th Annual Manistique Area Salmon and Trout Derby this weekend. Call 1-800-342-4282 or 906-341-5241 for information.
Little Bay De Noc-Finally has some of the best walleye fishing reported this season. Fait to good catches in the southern bay when trolling crank baits or crawlers in 16 to 30 feet of water between the “Fingers” and the Minneapolis Shoals. The best fishing was in the Black Bottom area when drifting or trolling crawlers in 20 to 25 feet of water. A few perch were taken in the Narrows off Saunders Point. Smallmouth bass were caught throughout the bay although the better fishing was in 10 to 20 feet of water off Hunters Point. A few salmon have started to show up at the mouth of the Ford River.
Big Bay De Noc-Has good walleye fishing all the way out to Round Island. Most are trolling stick baits in 20 to 30 feet of water. Good smallmouth action off Ansell’s Point and south to Garden Bluff when casting tube baits or crank baits along the weeds in 20 feet of water. Nahma has fair to good perch action for those jigging minnows in 10 to 18 feet just off the mouth of the Sturgeon River. At Fairport, anglers are still salmon fishing 80 to 125 feet down in deeper waters.
Grand Marais - Light numbers of salmon, lake trout and steelhead have been caught. Catch rates should improve this week.
Perch Lake - Which is 25 miles north of Newberry in Luce County will temporarily close the Boating Access Site beginning August 31st through September 17th due to reconstruction of the boat ramp and parking lot. The site will be open for public use during the Labor Day weekend.
Cedarville and Hessel -A few small pike were caught in the Hessel Marina. Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance are producing pike, perch and smallmouth. Try 10 to 12 feet of water while casting or drifting minnows. In Cedarville Bay and Government Bay, a few perch were caught on minnows in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
What Great Weather Were Having
Finally were having summer in Northern Michigan and the poor kids are back in school. It looks like sept. will be warmer than july.
Her a photo I shot at Otter Creek wednesday.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Never Forget
We should never forget the attack on 9/11 and how many families that were effected by their cowardly act.
My wife’s best friend Debbie lost their son in the attack on the towers and every year I put this up to remember the tragic waste of our best minds that were murdered.
His name was Brock Safronoff and here is his story.
TRAVERSE CITY - Brock Safronoff wasn’t just on the road to success - the Traverse City native was in the passing lane.
A top scholar-athlete both in high school and college, Safronoff was an up-and-coming computer programmer in a worldwide Fortune 500 company in New York City. He had recently been married and the young couple had just settled into a new apartment they bought in Brooklyn. Less than a year in his new job, he was already being sent out to train other employees of the company. His future seemed limited only by his own ambition - and he had plenty of that as well.
“Brock was one of the smartest people I’ve ever met,” said Joel Cronk, a friend and teammate of Safronoff at Amherst College in Massachusetts. “Everyone who knew Brock knew that he was a very special guy.”
Safronoff was at work a year ago this morning, working more than 80 floors up in the north tower of the World Trade Center, when a hijacked jetliner slammed into the building. A few minutes later another jet rammed the south tower, and both superstructures soon crumbled into a massive pile of steel, concrete and ash.
In all, the act of terrorism masterminded from half a world away by Saudi exile and Islamic extremist Osama bin Laden claimed 2,801 lives in and around the World Trade Center.
Including Brock Safronoff. His death following the attacks of Sept. 11 have forever changed the lives of his family and friends - folks who are still struggling to understand how such a bright and caring person could be taken in such an evil act of violence.
Like his parents Joel and Debra Safronoff, Brock was born and raised in the Traverse City area. His father says Brock grew up doing what a lot of kids do - playing catch with his dad in the yard, shooting baskets and fishing with his brother in Acme Creek.
He also took an early interest in his home computer - still a relatively new thing back in the ‘80s. His dad recalls how the two boys would spend hours on the computer, playing games but also delving into more complicated areas like data entry and program writing.
It was a youthful pastime that would flourish into a career. While he majored in chemistry and was a pre-med student in college, his expertise in computers began shaping his young professional life. After college he worked writing computer programs for a radiologist in Cincinnati. For a while he considered going to medical school, but decided instead to take a position at the center of the business universe - at the World Trade Center in New York City.
In New York, Safronoff worked as a computer systems analyst for Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc., one of the world’s top consulting firms in insurance and business management with clients in more than 100 countries and annual revenues exceeding $10 billion.
“The fact that he was working in downtown New York at the World Trade Center at his age, I think that says a lot about the kind of person Brock was,” said Jim Schramski of Traverse City, a high school classmate and friend of Safronoff.
Marsh & McLennan had more than 1,800 people working in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, and lost 295 employees in the terrorist attacks including Safronoff. Company spokeswoman Barbara Perlmutter said the firm decided against doing interviews or otherwise issuing public statements about its workers, saying it wanted to respect the privacy of the victims and their families.
Joel Safronoff said his son enjoyed his job and was just starting to get comfortable in New York City. Brock and his wife, Tara, were married Aug. 4, 2001, at St. Paul’s Church on Staten Island. She was a school teacher and the couple had just bought an apartment in Brooklyn. He was also doing post-graduate work at Columbia University in New York.
“He was real happy where he was,” his father said. “He liked the East Coast, but he always liked to come home, too.”
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People who knew Brock Safronoff were not at all surprised with his achievements.
He was a top 10 graduate of Traverse City Senior High School’s Class of 1993, and a star pitcher on the Trojan baseball team. When it was time for college, he chose small but prestigious Amherst College in Massachusetts - both for its reputation as one of the country’s top liberal arts colleges and its strong baseball tradition.
At Amherst, Safronoff again excelled both in the classroom and on the athletic field. A four-year varsity player, Safronoff led the Lord Jeffs with a 1.87 earned run average in his junior year, and was the winning pitcher in the school’s first win in the NCAA tournament.
Cronk says he was amazed at Safronoff’s ability to focus on the task in front of him, whether it was a final exam, a project in the chemistry lab or the team’s next game. Cronk tells a story about Safronoff being scheduled to pitch a game on the same day he had a major project going in the chemistry lab. He arrived at the field just 20 minutes before the game was to begin - and went out and hurled a dominating 1-hit shutout.
“That was just Brock,” Cronk said.
One of Safronoff’s mentors was longtime Amherst College head baseball coach Bill Thurston, a former baseball star at the University of Michigan who also played professionally in the Detroit Tigers farm system.
Thurston, who has been enshrined in the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, called Safronoff “one of the best kids I ever coached.”
“He had no personal ego for himself,” Thurston said. “He was much more concerned about the success of his teammates and the team. ... He was just a class individual - and a very good baseball player.”
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Safronoff was among around a dozen former baseball players from Amherst who worked in and around the World Trade Center. They were there on Sept. 21.
“I called a bunch of them to see if they were OK, and thankfully they were,” Thurston said.
But the coach was unaware that Safronoff had left Cincinnati less than a year earlier to take a job in New York City. It was several days later before Thurston learned that he, too, had suffered a personal loss that day.
“Once we heard that Brock was lost in the World Trade Center, we were just devastated,” Thurston said. Amherst lost three of its graduates in the attacks, including a woman who also worked in the World Trade Center and a surgeon who was on the hijacked flight that crashed in Pennsylvania.
“It really hit this campus hard,” Thurston said of Sept. 11. “It really affected our alumni, our people.”
As a tribute to Safronoff, the baseball program dedicated a new centerfield flagpole at the college’s Memorial Field and installed a memorial plaque at the stadium at their annual alumni game June 1.
The school retired Safronoff’s number 22 uniform, the first athlete in the school’s history so honored. The baseball program also created a “Brock Safronoff Team First Award” that is now presented annually to the Amherst player showing the dedication and leadership qualities that made Safronoff a special student-athlete.
Cronk spoke at the memorial ceremony, which he said involved a mixture of sorrow and pride that he had never experienced before. Cronk said it was devastating to see the tears of Safronoff’s family during the ceremony, but uplifting to see so many people - some who knew Brock but many others who didn’t - gather to honor him.
“It was tough being there without Brock,” Cronk said. “We never knew a game at Amherst where he wasn’t with us.”
As sad as the day was, Joel Safronoff said it was a rewarding one for his family. Seeing the Amherst family come together to honor their son was among the few bright spots his family has experienced in a long and difficult year.
“We were really impressed with what they did,” Safronoff said. “It really meant a lot to us.”
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Joel Safronoff said it’s difficult not to dwell on his family’s loss. He said it can get overwhelming at times - especially in recent weeks as the first year anniversary of the tragedy grew closer.
The family has been peppered with media requests for interviews about Brock over the past year, but have politely declined nearly all of them. A close and private family, the Safronoffs say it’s still too difficult for them to talk publicly about their experiences over the past year.
“Maybe someday,” he said softly. “Not yet.”
While search crews were able to positively identify Brock’s remains using DNA testing, the Safronoffs still have little information about their son’s death.
“We don’t have the details of what happened yet,” Joel Safronoff said, noting that search crews found a portion of an airplane wing right next to the area where Brock’s desk was located. He believes the wing indicates that it is unlikely that Brock and others in the office were killed instantly in a jet fuel fireball that some of the experts have theorized.
Sometimes, the family finds itself turning off the television news because it confronts them with the events of Sept. 11 again and again.
“The best thing is keeping busy - keeping busy doing something else,” he said. “If you don’t you find yourself thinking about it all the time.”
There was one passion that consumed Mr. Safronoff, 26, long before his freshman year at Amherst College, when he and his future wife were physics lab partners. It was his devotion to the Detroit Lions, which stemmed from his upbringing in Traverse City, Mich., and which required the strength to withstand continual heartbreak, said Michael A. Cohen, a friend and fellow fan.
Their friendship was based on a shared fantasy that the Lions would one day make it to the Super Bowl. When they met to watch games at an Upper East Side bar, they rarely discussed work.
Mr. Cohen, in fact, had forgotten Mr. Safronoff worked as a computer programmer at Marsh & McLennan. “I had to look up on his wedding announcement where it was that he worked,” Mr. Cohen said. “I remember now that he told me he had this great view.”
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Fat Lady is Singing
The fat lady is singing as summer is over thanks god summer weather is finally here. Had a fantastic labor day holiday as everybody was busy with lots of customers buying bait.
Finally had a great holiday weekend in Northern Michigan. Salmon fishing is the big thing as most are heading out for the big fish as most inland lakes are starting to get a perch bite. Some salmon are up the rivers also with pier fishing picking up. Inland lakes had lots of pressure this week-end with good reports. Houghton Lake fishing is still good with limit catches over the weekend. Fish are already starting a fall pattern
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying fishing is real slow this week with some pike being caught on suckerss. A sad note in the Gaylord area Don’s Sport Shop is closed and have been in business since the 50’s. How times are changing and your small businesses will no longer be serving the sportsman.
Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake says off of Long Point the walleye bite is still good with leeches and crawlers working best with a bobber. Lots of people on the lake this week and catching fish. Limit walleye catches this week and the big bluegill are biting along with big bass. He has four special crawlers harness that he ties that are working great.There is a landing across the street( 16 foot fishing boats or smaller as the lake has dropped a foot)from him but no parking, but if you buy your supplies from him he will let you park in his vacent lot across from the landing and put you on the fish.
Call him at 989-422-5230 his address is 9613 E Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629.
Saginaw Bay - Limits of walleye have been caught off Pinconning and Linwood when trolling crawler harnesses or Hot-n-Tots in 12 to 15 feet of water. The action was slower a few miles east of the Spark Plug and the Black Hole. Yellow perch were caught in the shipping channel, around the Spark Plug and near Buoys 9 and 10. Catfish are hitting on shrimp in the Hot Ponds. Near Quanicassee, walleye fishing was slow with boats only taking 1 or 2 fish off the Callahan Reef. Those heading out for perch were taking 12 to 15 fish on average per boat near the Spark Plug. The better walleye fishing was off Sebewaing, but anglers are still working hard to get them. Target 15 feet of water in the Slot off Fish Point and out near the Spark Plug in 32 feet of water. Most are using crawler harnesses but fish were also caught on Hot-n-Tots in the deeper water. A few perch were caught northeast of the Spark Plug. Caseville is quiet except for a few smallmouth bass caught off the breakwall.
Mullett Lake -Anglers have caught pike and perch when still-fishing with crawlers or minnows. Walleye, bass and even a few trout were also caught. Good perch fishing on the west side with some in the 9 and 10 inch range.
Burt Lake - Burt Lake in Alanson has anglers trolling during the evening hours with great success, mostly using crawlers. Inland lakes are giving up plenty of blue gill. Also some perch are showing up
Lake Margrethe a decent number of walleye are being taken in about 18 feet of water using leeches or crawlers on a jig head. Perch are biting great also on minnows. Anglers are also catching a few pike as well. Also the gills have started to bite on waxworms and worms.
Higgins Lake -Perch are being caught on fathead minnows and wigglers
Houghton Lake -Walleye are being caught on crawlers or leeches. Some big bluegills have been caught and a few nice crappie were taken on spinner baits. Those out pike fishing have also caught some nice fish.
Lake Charlevoix -Good pike fishing was reported at the north end of lake when using live minnows. Expect perch to bite soon and the walleye have started to bite again with some bass on the bite.
Lake Bellaire -Surface temperatures increased to the high 60’s and low 70’s. Walleye anglers are still fishing near the Fisherman’s Paradise Public Access, Northwest Arm and the Narrows. Try trolling crawler harnesses, spoons, and stick baits or jigging with leeches and crawlers in 10 to 35 feet of water. Fish range from 14 to 16 inches. Bass anglers have been casting artificial worms, tube baits or crank baits in 3 to 25 feet of water. Target the drop-offs in the South Arm. Pike are hitting on crawler harnesses or spoons near the mouth of the Intermediate River and the Grass River. Yellow perch ranging from 4 to 13 inches have been caught by those still-fishing in 2 to 16 feet of water in the Northwest Arm and in front of the Intermediate River. Try crawlers or minnows.
Lake Skegemog near Kalkaska is producing bass and pan fish on wax worms, night crawlers, sucker and perch minnows. Elk Rapids Dam has some nice blue gill fishing available. Guernsey Lake has decent trout activity.
Elk River - Very slow this week
Boardman River - Salmon are in the river with early morning the best using spawn
Lake Leelanau - Perch fishing has been good this week when they can get out with minnows working best. Some walleye are being caught on crawlers
Long Lake by Traverse City has picked up on both perch and walleye
Lake Missaukee - Is hot for all fish and lots of action this week with panfish really on the bite and waxworms are the ticket.
Portage Lake -Those trolling for walleye and pike had a hard time locating fish. Good numbers of largemouth bass are once again being caught on the east side.
Manistee -Boats have found the salmon and trout to be scattered anywhere from the front of the piers to 400 feet of water. Early in the morning, salmon can be caught using glow plugs in front of the piers. Those fishing the Shelf found fish in the top 60 feet of water. Best colors continue to be green or blue.
Manistee River - Salmon are in the river however cooler weather will bring more fish in. The better fishing has been in the early morning or at night with spoons, crank baits, body baits, yarn or spawn. Fish the deeper holes or up near Tippy Dam.
Ludington -Salmon are being caught when trolling plugs in front of the pier and out to 60 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught salmon when casting spoons.
Brevort Lake near Allenville and north of St. Ignace is producing walleye and anglers are doing well when they can get out. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures limited angling activity this week but the weekend is looking up.
Manistique anglers are dealing with chilly temperatures and rain this week, but when anglers can get out the fishing is good on Indian Lake for decent counts of walleye. Good fishing off of the Manistique area on Lake Michigan where the salmon and trout are active. Spoons are working in just about every color. Good luck to all anglers fishing in the 24th Annual Manistique Area Salmon and Trout Derby this weekend. Call 1-800-342-4282 or 906-341-5241 for information.
Little Bay De Noc-Most of the walleye are still in the southern bay however fish have been caught throughout. Some are trolling stick baits from the mouth of the Escanaba River south to Portage Point and fishing 25 to 30 feet down just off the break. Walleye and perch were caught by those drifting or stillfishing with crawlers off the beach at Gladstone. Northern pike were caught on spinners and spoons fished in 10 to 12 feet of water at the mouth of the Escanaba Yacht Harbor.
Big Bay De Noc-Had fair walleye catches near Ogontz in 14 to 16 feet of water and Garden Bay in 8 to 12 feet of water. Good smallmouth action for those casting crank baits and tube baits in 18 to 25 feet of water. Salmon action off Fairport was down.
Grand Marais - Light numbers of salmon, lake trout and steelhead have been caught. Catch rates should improve this week.
Perch Lake - Which is 25 miles north of Newberry in Luce County will temporarily close the Boating Access Site beginning August 31st through September 17th due to reconstruction of the boat ramp and parking lot. The site will be open for public use during the Labor Day weekend.
Cedarville and Hessel -Pier fishing at the Hessel Marina was slow with only small pike or perch caught. Splake have started coming into the harbor and were hitting on spawn bags. Fish were also caught in Snows Channel and Musky Bay however many were sub-legal. In Cedarville Bay, the best perch action was in 6 to 8 inches of waters when using minnows, leaf worms or crayfish tails.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Fantastic Holiday Weekend Ahead
Finally a great weekend in store for Northern Michigan. Salmon fishing is the big thing as most are heading out for the big fish as most inland lakes have been slow with the walleye bite. Some salmon are up the rivers also with pier fishing picking up. Inland lakes have had no pressure this week so have not heard too much on a bite. Houghton Lake fishing is still good with limit catches of walleye today.
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying fishing is real slow this week with some pike being caught on suckerss. A sad note in the Gaylord area Don’s Sport Shop is closing this week and have been in business since the 50’s. How times are changing and your small businesses will no longer be serving the sportsman.
Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake says off of Long Point the walleye bite is still good with leeches and crawlers working best with a bobber. Very few people on the lake this week but still catching fish. Limit walleye catches this week and the big bluegill are biting along with big bass. The bass are still biting great. He has four special crawlers harness that he ties that are working great.There is a landing across the street( 16 foot fishing boats or smaller as the lake has dropped a foot)from him but no parking, but if you buy your supplies from him he will let you park in his vacent lot across from the landing and put you on the fish.
Call him at 989-422-5230 his address is 9613 E Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629.
Saginaw Bay - We seem to be in the fall fishing mode a bit earlier this year. Walleye fishing is shutting down, as it usually does around Labor Day. As for catch rates, walleye were taken 2 to 3 miles east of the Black Hole in 23 feet of water. Other spots were the Callahan Reef and out near the Slot however anglers are fishing a long time to get a couple walleye. Perch fishing is still slow, with better action about a month away. A few fish were caught around the Black Hole and Buoy H. Enough fish 7 to 10 inches long were caught to make the trip worthwhile
Mullett Lake -Anglers are targeting perch,and walleye Some walleye were caught near the Sunken Islands and Needle point in 50 to 75 feet of water when trolling crawler harnesses. Bass are hitting on sand colored tube baits, spinners and drop shot minnows in waters as shallow as 4 feet or as deep as 14 to 17 feet. Perch and rock bass were hitting in the shallows. Walleye were caught when trolling crawler harnesses in 35 to 45 feet of water along the north end of the lake.
Burt Lake - Burt Lake in Alanson has anglers trolling during the evening hours with great success, mostly using crawlers. Inland lakes are giving up plenty of blue gill. Also some perch are showing up
Lake Margrethe a decent number of walleye are being taken in about 18 feet of water using leeches or crawlers on a jig head. Perch are biting great also on minnows. Anglers are also catching a few pike as well. Also the gills have started to bite on waxworms and worms.
Higgins Lake -Very Slow on perch with a few Lake trout hitting on cowbells and body baits. Those jigging or trolling are still catching lake trout. A few perch were caught around the Sunken Island and lots of rock bass have been caught all over the lake. Hoping with wigglers back in season they will stat catching perch.
Houghton Lake - Walleye action was still good for those using crawlers, leeches or crank baits. Some big bluegills have been caught shallow but the fish are scattered. Crappie were hitting on minnows in 8 to 10 feet of water.Those jigging leeches or trolling crawler harnesses have caught walleye. Many were sub-legal. Bluegill and crappie were in the weedbeds and some nice pike were caught on spoons, spinner baits or large minnows.
Lake Charlevoix -Good pike fishing was reported at the north end of lake when using live minnows. Expect perch to bite soon and the walleye have started to bite again with some bass on the bite.
Lake Bellaire -Surface temperatures are still around the mid to low 60’s throughout the entire lake. Pressure for walleye continues to be high with a few fish caught each day. Anglers are trolling and jigging near the Fisherman’s Paradise Access, the Northwest Arm and the Narrows. Try crawler harnesses, spoons, stick baits or floating jigs with leeches or crawlers in 10 to 40 feet of water. Bass have been caught on artificial worms, tube baits or crank baits. Pike were caught by those trolling crawler harnesses or casting spoons near the mouth of the Intermediate River and the Grass River outlet in 8 to 12 feet of water. Perch were hitting crawlers in 5 feet of water near the mouth of the Intermediate River.
Lake Skegemog near Kalkaska is producing bass and pan fish on wax worms, night crawlers, sucker and perch minnows. Elk Rapids Dam has some nice blue gill fishing available. Guernsey Lake has decent trout activity.
Elk River - The action has slowed with only a few smallmouth bass caught. with a few salmon
Boardman River - Salmon are in the river with early morning the best using spawn
Lake Leelanau - Perch fishing has been good this week when they can get out with minnows working best. Some walleye are being caught on crawlers
Long Lake by Traverse City has been slow and many are fishing hard but little success
Lake Missaukee - Pan fishing improved and lots of pike have been caught with bass and walleye biting on leeches.
Portage Lake -Those trolling for walleye and pike had a hard time locating fish. Good numbers of largemouth bass are once again being caught on the east side.
Manistee -Boats are catching salmon in the harbor and around the piers. Try using glow plugs in low light conditions and chrome plugs once the sun comes up. Pier anglers are catching salmon on glow spoons.
Ludington -Salmon are being caught when trolling plugs in front of the pier and out to 60 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught salmon when casting spoons.
Brevort Lake near Allenville and north of St. Ignace is producing walleye and anglers are doing well when they can get out. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures limited angling activity this week but the weekend is looking up.
Manistique anglers are dealing with chilly temperatures and rain this week, but when anglers can get out the fishing is good on Indian Lake for decent counts of walleye. Good fishing off of the Manistique area on Lake Michigan where the salmon and trout are active. Spoons are working in just about every color. Good luck to all anglers fishing in the 24th Annual Manistique Area Salmon and Trout Derby this weekend. Call 1-800-342-4282 or 906-341-5241 for information.
Little Bay De Noc-Walleye anglers are still trolling near the “Fingers” with stick baits in 10 to 30 feet of water. A few fish were caught at the mouth of the Escanaba River when drifting crawlers along the weedbeds. Light perch action off Brach’s Cabins when jigging minnows in 10 to 14 feet of water. Fair salmon action off Portage Point when trolling glow spoons 70 feet down in waters 80 to 90 feet deep.
Big Bay De Noc-Is producing walleye north and south of Round Island when trolling small moonshine glows in 20 to 33 feet of water. Smallmouth were caught in 10 to 14 feet of water near Ogontz and 10 to 25 feet of water outside Garden Bay. Off Fairport, boat anglers are still heading out deep and fishing 110 to 170 feet down with green and black glow spoons. A few large fish were caught however most were less than 10 pounds.
Grand Marais - Light numbers of salmon, lake trout and steelhead have been caught. Catch rates should improve this week.
Perch Lake - Which is 25 miles north of Newberry in Luce County will temporarily close the Boating Access Site beginning August 31st through September 17th due to reconstruction of the boat ramp and parking lot. The site will be open for public use during the Labor Day weekend.
Cedarville and Hessel -Catch rates from the Hessel pier seem to fluctuate with the weather. Catch rates for perch and pike have dropped. Smallmouth bass action has picked up as it usually does when the weather starts to cool. Try casting along the reefs and the rocks. Salmon have been caught off Goose Island when fishing 25 to 40 feet down. Perch can still be found in Cedarville Bay or the Moscoe Channel.